Missing 'dalek' parrot reunited with owners

Leonard the missing African grey parrot has been found safe and well and returned to his owners – thanks to the Bristol Evening Post.

Maya Brandt and Ian Chaney are delighted after their Dalek-imitating, Beethoven symphony-whistling pet was returned yesterday.

We reported how Leonard the eight-year-old parrot, who whistles parts of Beethoven's Fifth and Ninth symphonies, had escaped from the couple's antique restoration workshop in Devon Road in Easton.

He was found in Brislington after flying into a young girl's bedroom.

The girl was startled and ran to get her dad. He then called upon his neighbour, a parrot owner, who took the bird in.

The girl and her dad, who have asked not to be named, then spotted our story about Leonard and contacted Ian and Maya

Maya said: "We are just delighted to have him back. It's funny because the man who had him wanted to check we were the right owners, so we made him this long list of things that Leonard says and does – but it turns out all he said the whole time he was there is "hello".

"He was delighted to see us and it is such a joy to get him back.

"Thank you to the people who returned him and thank you to Bristol Evening Post."

Ian said: "It's just what I would expect Leonard to do – find some nice cosy house.

"He managed to get a good two-and-a-half miles away, though – we were quite surprised."

Leonard's repertoire also includes the Mission Impossible theme tune and Village People hit YMCA.